Wesleyan Preview

Wesleyan University Cardinals
Head Coach: Drew Black
Years at School as head coach: 14 years
Career Record at school: 131-105-3
Assistant Coaches: Dan Bloom

2010-2011 Dual Meet Record: 16-3-1 (3rd NEWA)
2010-2011 National Qualifiers and All-Americans: Kyle Roosa 174
Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans: Roosa

Top returning starters:
133 Maika Nagata, 23-13 record; Joey Schwartz 9-2 record, injured, beat 2 all Americans last year
141 Nick Scotto, 19-10 record
149 Howard Tobochnik, 29-12 record, 2x Conference placer (5th, 5th)
157 Troy Sampson, 26-14 record, Conference placer (6th)
165 Tom Oddo, 11-9 record
174 Kyle Roosa, 29-11, Conference Champ, NCAA Qualifier
184 Jefferson Ajayi, 30-9 record, Conference Finalist (2nd)
197 Luke Erickson, 18-10 record, 2x Conference placer (3rd, 5th)
285 Dave Amrhein, 9-9

Top incoming wrestlers:
125 Ben Schwartz-IL, 100 + wins
149 Mike Baratz- OH state qualifier
149/157 Zach Larabee- MA state qualifier
165 Ryan Sblendorio-NJ State Qualifier, Region Champ
197 Greg Kelley-2nd in New England
285 Austin Frank-top 12 in NJ

Season outlook:
With eight returning starters, Wesleyan is poised to defend their NEWA Dual title and try to improve on their third place finish at the NEWA Championships. Kyle Roosa won the NEWA title and represented Wesleyan at the NCAA Championships, while Jefferson Ajayi finished 2nd. The Cardinals bring back an experienced team with a number of conference placewinners looking for their first NEWA title. 133 should be a good battle between 23 match winner Maika Nagata and Joey Schwartz who started the year hot but sustained an injury that kept him out of the second half. It will be tough to improve on last year’s 16-3-1 record, but if the incoming freshman can fill in as needed in a good lineup, the Cardinals will be poised to take a step forward and perhaps challenge for the NEWA crown.